Four Roses - Small Batch

Four Roses, currently owned by the Japanese Kirin, was actually a blend until 2002. It was the Japanese owners that decided to produce and promote it again as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This Four Roses Small Batch was bottled in 2014. It is composed of four different bourbons produced in-house.

The nose is round and sweet, but very rich. This smells a lot like citrus peel and brown sugar. Sniffing tobacco, maraschino cherries and toffee apple. Nicely spicy on nutmeg and vanilla. Candied oranges. Hint of coconut and chocolate. Surprisingly complex.

The arrival is (too) soft, not enough body. Honeysweet. The spices speak first. Think nutmeg, but also ginger, cinnamon and a pinch of black pepper. Coriander! Quite feisty. The rye did its best. The sweetness reminds me of chewing tobacco, oranges, cherries and honey. Quite nice!

The finish is bittersweet and medium long. It leaves the mouth quite dry.

A very pleasant surprise, to be honest. And just under 30 EUR. Recommended.

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